The Giver by Lois Lowry
My name is Bria, I am a ski racer, swimmer, and dancer. I love reading in my free time.
I found the book The Giver to be an interesting and engaging dystopian novel. Not only is it captivating, but it also has a film adaptation. I enjoyed this book because it explores themes of adventure, hope, joy, love, power, and more.
The story is set in a future community where people do not experience color and emotions are suppressed. Life seems idyllic, as everyone is the same, eliminating inequality, conflict, and injustice. Each year at the Ceremony of Twelve, children receive assigned jobs based on their birth year and start training. Jonas, the main character, anxiously waits for his name to be called to receive his assignment. However, he is different; he is chosen for the honored position of Receiver of Memory. In this role, he will receive memories of the past from an elderly man known as the Giver. The community consults him when facing problems to avoid repeating mistakes.
As Jonas becomes the Receiver of Memory, he realizes how much the community has kept from its people—experiences like love, snow, dancing, and Christmas. This realization leads him to plan an escape from the community. Throughout the book, readers feel as if they are part of Jonas’s journey, accompanying him as he navigates struggles and seeks a different life. Overall, I appreciated this book for many reasons.
